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**Update for October 2020**

Our flights are currently grounded, but the BUHABS committee is working hard to plan towards a restart to all activities with our hot air balloon in Spring 2021.*

While the hot air balloon is tucked up for the winter, the society is certainly not! We are hard at work creating all manner of socials, talks and virtual experiences to educate, engage and interest all budding hot air balloon enthusiasts - all for a non-flying membership cost of just £6.

New to hot air ballooning, or a seasoned fan? Whichever you may be, as part of the BUHABS community, you will have invitations to all our events, help shape the society and have a front row seat to hear about our plans for our restart. Learn all about ballooning in a city famous for it!

Why is Bristol obsessed with hot air balloons? Join BUHABS and find out! Join our interest list 2020/21 to hear more of our plans for the year, and buy your membership above.

At such a time as we restart flying, current members will have the opportunity to upgrade to a 'flying' membership, allowing them to sign up to our events to have the chance to inflate, tether, fly in and retrieve the balloon. There will be no obligation to upgrade, though this will be necessary for the hands-on side of ballooning once we know it will be going ahead.

Flying membership costs £25 (£19 upgrade) and a flight in the basket costs an additional £40 based on our cost sharing model (cheapest hot air balloon flights going..!). Read more about our usual operations below, and make sure to check out our promotional video from last year.

*Please note this is dependent on many factors out of our control, including the latest government and university guidance regarding limiting the spread of Covid-19. While planning for this scenario, the committee will continue to review the prospects of flying by this time and fully comply with the most up-to-date guidelines from all relevant governing bodies.

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Seize the opportunity to experience something completely unique by joining Bristol University Hot Air Ballooning Society. Make new friends, learn new skills, and have a chance to fly in our iconic red and white balloon at an affordable price!

 Who are we?

We are BUHABS, one of only two student-run hot air ballooning societies in the UK. We fly as often as we can, mostly on Wednesday afternoons and weekends from various launch sites in Bristol and the surrounding area. We often travel to other balloon meets across the country and we also have opportunities for members to train as a pilot.

Do I need to know anything about hot air balloons?

Absolutely not, you do not need to have had any experience, everyone is welcome to join and we would love to meet you. We fly with a qualified pilot who will tell you how to help set the hot air balloon up and ensure that you have a safe and exciting time in the air.

How do you arrange flights?

Our pilot checks the weather forecast and if the conditions look suitable, they will send out an invitation via email to paid members. Places are first-come, first served. The day before, detailed weather forecasts are checked and details on the pickup location and times are confirmed. The decision to fly lies with the pilot and flights can be cancelled at any time including on the launch field. Passenger safety is our number one priority.

How much is membership?

Due to the current situation, we are currently offering a non-flying membership at the cost of £6.00. This will allow you to access all our social events (online and in-person) throughout the year with the option to upgrade to a flying membership (an additional £19) later on in the year! 

Membership costs £25 for the entire year (until September 2021). Your membership will allow you to:

• Receive invitations via email to sign up to our flights.
• Access our social events throughout the year.
• Sign up for ballooning meets including Midlands Air Festival, Longleat Air Safari and of course, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Once you have signed up to fly in our balloon, the cost of a flight is £40. It’s the cheapest way you will ever get to fly in a hot air balloon.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: All BUHABS events and signups are managed via  http://groupspaces.com/BUHABS **

Note: Buying membership does not guarantee a flight. Ballooning is weather dependent, and flights can be cancelled at last minute. However, we will make every effort to get as many people to fly as possible.

We are committed to introducing as many people as possible into the wonderful world of hot air ballooning and we aim to be as affordable and inclusive as possible. Students can apply for up to £100 per academic year through the Activity Hardship fund.

How do I keep in touch with what is happening in BUHABS?

Join our interest list 2020/21 to stay up to date with what the society is up to. Check us out on our social media, including our Instagram and Facebook pages, where we post about ballooning news and posts pictures of our recent trips. We also run a private Facebook group for members to ensure our members are kept up to date.

If you have any further questions, feel free to message us on our social media or email us at mail.buhabs@gmail.com.

Note: Due to Covid-19, we will continue to ensure our activities follow the recent government and university guidelines.